Marian Wright Edelman, born on June 6, 1939, in Bennettsville, South Carolina, is a tireless advocate for children’s rights and social justice. After earning her law degree from Yale Law School in 1963, she became the first African American woman admitted to the Mississippi Bar. She initially worked for the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, where she focused on racial and educational inequality. In 1968, Edelman founded the Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), a nonprofit organization dedicated to advocating for policies that protect children from poverty, abuse, and neglect. Under her leadership, the CDF has become one of the nation’s leading organizations focused on improving the lives of children, particularly those from marginalized communities.
Throughout her career, Marian Wright Edelman has worked relentlessly to ensure that the needs and rights of children are recognized in U.S. policy. Her advocacy has led to significant reforms in child welfare, education, and healthcare, and she has been a key figure in pushing for legislation like the Child Welfare Act and the expansion of the National School Lunch Program. In addition to her work with the CDF, she has written extensively on issues of racial and social justice, authoring several books, including The Measure of Our Success and Guide My Feet. Edelman’s lifelong commitment to fighting for the most vulnerable members of society has earned her numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, cementing her legacy as a leading figure in the fight for children’s rights and social equity.
